Armenians Protest Outside Deutsche Bank In Los Angeles

2006-01-17

Yerkir
16.01.2006 15:18
YEREVAN (YERKIR) - More than 1,000 Armenians from across Los Angeles
County held signs that read "Blood for $" and chanted "Shame on
Deutsche Bank," according to Los Angeles media reports.
Demonstrators gathered at the downtown offices of Deutsche Bank
A.G. Friday morning, hours after it and Dresdner Bank A.G. were
slapped with a class-action lawsuit claiming they have withheld money
and assets from the heirs of Armenian Genocide victims for 90 years.
"We brought this case specifically to address the wrongs committed
by this bank and others who profit off the Armenian Genocide,"
said attorney Brian Kabateck, of Kabateck, Brown, Kellner, LLP at
Friday's rally. He and Mark Geragos, of Geragos & Geragos, APC; and
Vartkes Yeghiayan, of Yeghiayan & Associates, filed the lawsuit in
Los Angeles Superior Court.
The suit claims that the two German banks have prevented the recovery
of millions in money and assets deposited by Armenians prior to World
War I and the Armenian Genocide. The lawsuit also claims that the
banks accepted "looted assets" taken by the Ottoman Turkey government
during World War I and the Armenian Genocide.
Deutsche Bank spokespersons declined any comments.
The suit seeks restitution -- which Geragos estimates in the tens of
millions -- for the heirs of genocide victims.